nshappie Posted October 15, 2014 Share Posted October 15, 2014 My life has followed a series of interwoven paths which have allowed me to gain invaluable experience leading me to pursue a physician assistant as a principle career. Coming from a low-income family without a history of secondary education I chose to commit myself to something I was familiar with, physical labor. I started my first occupational path as a carpenter, just a stone’s throw away from my father, who is an electrician. I devoted myself to my occupation, mastering my skills and earning promotions. My efforts provided me the opportunity to save money in order to attend college, something that was foreign to my family. Choosing an educational, and eventual career path, was a difficult decision for me. I desired be a healthcare provider but felt that the goal was lofty and out of reach for someone with my upbringing. I decided on molecular biology after learning of all the advancements made in human genetics research. While attending undergraduate school for my B.S. in biology I had a great desire for its application to real life. In the throes of a full semester and a part-time job, I interviewed for, and was accepted into a student position at the United States Department of Agriculture. Working two part-time jobs and attending school full-time was a rewarding challenge. After graduation I became a full-time biological science technician with my work focusing primarily on molecular diagnostics. While rewarding, my work did not satisfy my desire to serve people, a service only able to be realized in healthcare. Two very different medical needs helped direct me in pursuing a career as a physician assistant. My wife and I decided on a homebirth for our second child. Being away from the ministration and security of care found in the hospital was initially frightening. The care exhibited by our midwife was nothing short of amazing. Receiving training, though informal, and assisting with the birth of our daughter placed in me a desire to reciprocate the care demonstrated by our midwife. A recent knee injury, (partial tear of ACL and tear in medial meniscus), prompted a consultation with a PA specializing in orthopedics. The PA became invested in my recovery by creating a treatment plan which balanced my desires with appropriate care. It is with this beneficence that I want to carry out my conscience of care. My Christian faith has also been a major catalyst in defining my pursuit to become a physician assistant. With a call to be actively compassionate to the underserved I have followed God into His work. Participating in benevolent mission trips to Ecuador and Peru in order to assist in building needs refocused my perspective when considering my role in serving the impoverished. The medical needs in these rural areas were great. My heart ached with the thought that I could not provide service to meet their urgent needs. A career as a PA would allow me to act upon my experiences and aptitudes, corroborating my profession to serve the medical needs of people in a compassionate manner. Shadowing a local primary care PA in an underserved location has been an awakening. Children with upper respiratory infections to the elderly with peripheral neuropathy from diabetes, many without insurance, were all treated with compassion and excellent care. An encouragement and conviction to provide this care has been impressed in me. There is a high demand and necessity for PAs in rural locations and I feel I can help to relieve the burden of unmet need on the impoverished. With strong conviction I believe I will become an effective physician assistant. I believe that my analytical skills, desire to act out beneficent care, and aspiration to apply my competence to real life will translate well into a career in medicine. I believe that as a PA my interpersonal and communication skills will serve to provide patient-centered care. After completion of PA school I intend to work in family medicine or pediatrics in an underserved community. I would be honored to have the opportunity to one day give my patients the care and professionalism given to me in my times of need. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patho Posted October 17, 2014 Share Posted October 17, 2014 It has been a pleasure reading your personal statement. It was good that you didn't simply list your resume and wrote a compelling story about your journey. I am not the best at proof reading but I would suggest getting a writing instructor to edit any errors and submit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nshappie Posted October 17, 2014 Author Share Posted October 17, 2014 It was good that you didn't simply list your resume and wrote a compelling story about your journey. Thanks for the fedback bcao1! I tried to be sincere in telling my story and describing the underlying motivation for becoming a PA. I don't understand why so many personal statements read like an action novel.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paproof Posted October 18, 2014 Share Posted October 18, 2014 Sounds like a pretty good personal statement to me. I agree with what bcao1 said: getting a professional to review it might not be a bad idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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